Photo Essay: What Bach (pronounced "Batch") means to New Zealanders

To New Zealanders the word 'bach' (pronounced batch) has many meanings. Most commonly, it is the name they give to small, humble beach houses or vacation bungalows that dot the countryside. The concept is culturally significant to the Kiwis because it defines an era in the 1950’s which a growing middle class were increasingly more prosperous and mobile and as such were enjoying leisure time at the beach.

It is believed the origin of the word is derived from the term “bachelor pad.” But the word is more broadly used to suggest an informality that is related to time and activities around these tiny little beach bungalows and hillside retreats. The humble size and construction methods used to build baches (some are made of old campers or even streetcars) have come to define an entire architectural style of anything oddly designed and thrown together.

If you should ever find yourselves at the domestic terminal at the Auckland airport, Bach is also the name of a café. But the food they serve there is anything but what you would expect from the usual prosaic, overpriced food one generally finds at an airport. Bach is actually quite good. They offer a range of salads and fresh sandwiches (nice combinations of fresh bread, roasted meat, chutneys and cheeses), in addition to pastries served with coffee drinks, beer and soft drinks.

Absolutely the best thing they serve is pavlova. This is a dessert is a super-light meringue cake that is sweet, delicate, cripsy and slightly tangy. It is traditionally served with whipped cream and local fruit (in this case kiwi fruit and a wonderful passion fruit sauce). Pavlova is apparently named after a famous Russian ballerina who toured New Zealand and Australia in the 1920’s. To this day the Aussies and the Kiwis still fight it out among themselves as to who deserves the distinction of having invented the dessert. I had to fight with my travel companion for a spoonful of Bach’s outrageously good preparation of this dish. She initially said we could share before she tasted it and immediately proclaimed that I’d have to order my own.

When in New Zealand, ask a Kiwi about the word “bach.” And if you should find yourselves with some time to kill at the airport, seek out the Bach Café and try the pavlova. It is guaranteed to perform a ballet on your senses.